Skip to main content
Financial Assistance Hub

Industry approach to dealing with Debt Management Firms

22 November 2020

This industry common approach:

  • outlines a clear set of guidelines for when the banks may consider that a DMF, when representing a bank customer, is not acting in the customer’s interests and banks may approach a customer directly;
  • provides clarity and consistency in how member banks may deal with DMFs, recognising the importance of preserving a customer’s right to engage them, while trying to protect customers where firms may not be acting in their interest, and
  • describes an approach that is consistent with competition law obligations, the Code and other regulatory guidance such as the ASIC/ACCC Debt Collection Guideline (DCG)/RG 271 and the banks’ general responsibilities to their customers.

Download PDF

Latest news

1 / 3
Transcript
ABA CEO Simon Birmingham interview on News24 with Laura Jayes
1 October 2026

E&OETV InterviewInterview on News24 AM Agenda1 October 2026 Topics: Card surcharging ban; Interest rates; Refinancing Laura Jayes: Well credit card, any card surcharges are banned from today. I know customers will be happy. Small business, though, they’re not so sure. Joining me live now is the Australian Banking Association Chief Executive, Simon Birmingham. Simon, great… Read more »

Read more
Transcript
ABA CEO Simon Birmingham interview on FiveAA Adelaide with Stacey Lee and Jonno Edwards
1 October 2026

E&OERadio InterviewInterview on FiveAA Adelaide1 October 2026 Topics: Card surcharging ban Stacey Lee: Well, speaking of budgets, everyone’s are tight at the moment and they might get a little bit tighter from today because card surcharges have come to an end. It’s the first of October. It’s a deadline on a whole lot of things,… Read more »

Read more
Transcript
ABA CEO Simon Birmingham interview on ABC Adelaide with Sonya Feldhoff and Spence Denny
1 October 2026

E&OERadio InterviewInterview on ABC Adelaide1 October 2026 Topics: Interest rates; Hardship support from banks; Card surcharging ban Sonya Feldhoff: Simon Birmingham is the CEO of the Australian Banking Association. He’s also a former SA senator and finance minister. So, all of these things have been very much in his purview for a long time. Simon… Read more »

Read more